Learning Wellness Snippet

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Maintaining and improving your mental, physical, and emotional wellness plays a crucial role in how effectively you can learn and retain knowledge. As you go through this page think about ways to nurture your overall well-being to enhance your learning experience.

Slide Presentation: Learner Wellness

Mental Wellness

Life brings various challenges that can impact students' mental health. Understanding common issues like imposter syndrome, stress, anxiety, and depression can help maintain well-being. This guide offers insights into these conditions and highlights resources available to support students.

Imposter Syndrome

Impostor syndrome (IS) refers to an internal experience of believing you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. While this definition is usually narrowly applied to intelligence and achievement, it has links to perfectionism and the social context.

Simply put, imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a phony—you feel as though at any moment you are going to be found out as a fraud—like you don't belong where you are, and you only got there through dumb luck. Imposter syndrome can affect anyone, no matter their social status, work background, skill level, or degree of expertise. Explore the interaction below to learn more about combating imposter syndrome. 

Perfectionism

To some students, perfection can seem important—sometimes even essential. Academic work can feel like a competition; the student who can write flawlessly and comment articulately wins the respect of their instructor and the adoration (and envy) of their peers. Maybe not that last one, but the point is that so many of us strive for the unattainable and impossible goal of perfection.
We should remember that life is not about being perfect. It is about learning, growing, improving, and developing sympathy, kindness, and compassion.

 

Transcript

Stress

Girl with hands on her head in stress

Stress is a common and natural part of life, especially for students facing challenges like exams, assignments, and future decisions. While it can feel overwhelming at times, learning to manage stress effectively is essential for personal growth and well-being. Research shows that regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices such as meditation can significantly reduce stress levels. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps and seeking support from friends, family, or counselors can also help students cope more effectively. Rather than seeking to eliminate stress, it's important to develop healthy coping strategies and remember that setbacks and emotional lows are a normal part of life's challenges. Prioritizing self-care and standing firm during tough times are key to navigating stress successfully.

 

coping-with-stress.pdf Download coping-with-stress.pdf

Anxiety

Anxious girl with her hands on her head 

Experiencing occasional anxiety is normal, especially in new or challenging situations like meeting new people, driving in traffic, or public speaking. However, when anxiety becomes overwhelming, causes persistent fear, or interferes with daily activities, it’s important to seek help. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States, characterized by excessive fear or worry in situations that are usually not threatening. Symptoms can include a racing heart, shortness of breath, nausea, or intense fatigue. Research shows that effective strategies for managing anxiety include practicing mindfulness, engaging in regular physical activity, and seeking support from mental health professionals. If anxiety starts to disrupt your daily life, don't hesitate to reach out for professional help.

anxiety-final.pdf Download anxiety-final.pdf

Depression

Depression is a significant concern, often triggered by stress related to academics, work, finances, or feelings of isolation. It can profoundly impact academic performance and overall well-being. Unlike occasional sadness or stress, depression is a persistent and serious condition, but it is also treatable. If you're struggling with depression, reaching out for help is a crucial step. Effective coping strategies include seeking professional help, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, engaging in physical activity, and connecting with supportive friends and family. Remember, no one should suffer in silence; numerous resources are available to help you manage depression.

Select each area of the infographic below to learn more about how depression can have an impact on academic performance.

 

BYU Counseling And Psychological Services (CAPS)

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) at Brigham Young University is part of Student Development Services (SDS), which aims to support students in their personal, academic, and spiritual development, in line with BYU’s mission. CAPS provides psychological services through full-time licensed clinicians and graduate students in training, all committed to research, program development, and professional standards. Services are free for eligible students, with costs covered by student fees. CAPS also supports the broader campus community through consultative services and supervision of doctoral interns in an APA-accredited program. Services offered by CAPS include:

  • Individual, couples, and group counseling
  • Teaching Student Development Classes
  • Outreach training
  • Consultative services to administration, housing, faculty, and ecclesiastical leaders
  • Clinical training and supervision for graduate students and doctoral interns
  • Participation in ongoing research and program evaluation.
  • Online handouts and resources.

Schedule An Appointment Links to an external site.